The story of Ferraris and its wines is one rooted in California history, as well as Italian. Currently run by winemaker and owner Luca Ferraris, it was his grandfather who traveled to California at the turn of the 20th century and struck it rich while mining for gold. Using that newfound wealth, he purchased the family estate in 1921 and began selling his grapes to cooperatives in the area. Eighty years later, a chance encounter with famed winemaker Randall Graham at a wine festival in California turned into a partnership that allowed Luca to invest further in his family's vineyards.
The sheer juiciness of Luca's Barbera d'Asti Del Martin is evidence of that investment. The symphony of berries, spices, herbs and textures is something to behold. Try this with just about anything grilled, as well as meat and cheese boards. It's bold enough to pair with a steak, but buoyant enough to drink on its own.
94 POINTS: WINE ENTHUSIAST - This vibrant and exuberant Barbera opens with aromas of boysenberry, tart blueberry, fresh violets and roasted herbs. The palate is plump with juicy ripe cherries, wildflowers and a distinct minerality giving the wine a balance that is buoyed by crisp acidity on the finish: A top-notch wine.
91 POINTS: WINE SPECTATOR - A seductive Barbera, this is silky and charming, featuring violet, blackberry, black currant and mineral aromas and flavors. Easy to enjoy now, yet this should develop over the next 5 years. Drink now through 2028.
